Kenya has made history by hosting the first-ever Global REDD+ Summit in Nairobi, bringing together 59 REDD+ countries, four donor nations and 14 international organisations in a major global effort to accelerate forest conservation, climate action and sustainable development.
The landmark summit has attracted some of the world’s leading climate and environmental institutions, including Green Climate Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, the UN-REDD Programme, the UNFCCC Secretariat, Verra and the ART Secretariat.
Opening the summit, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa described the event as a defining moment for international climate cooperation and forest governance.
Barasa said Kenya’s selection to host the inaugural summit reflects the country’s growing influence in global climate diplomacy and environmental leadership, supported by its national ambition to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and restore degraded ecosystems across the country.
“Kenya is deeply committed to sustainable environmental stewardship and global climate action,”
Barasa said, highlighting the importance of the country’s forests, mountains, savannahs and coastal ecosystems in supporting biodiversity, livelihoods and climate resilience.
The summit comes at a critical time as countries intensify efforts under the REDD+ framework, a global mechanism established under Article 5 of the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Since the adoption of the Warsaw Framework in 2013, REDD+ has become one of the central pillars of global forest-based climate solutions. However, accelerating deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate-related disasters are increasing pressure on governments to strengthen implementation, improve transparency and scale up climate finance.
The First Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement has further amplified calls for urgent international action to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, making the Nairobi summit particularly significant in shaping future climate and forest governance.
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Over the course of the summit, delegates are expected to deliberate on national REDD+ strategies, safeguards systems, forest monitoring frameworks, transparency mechanisms, reference emission levels and access to results-based climate finance. Discussions are also focusing on the relationship between Article 5 and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, particularly regarding carbon markets and voluntary carbon credit systems.
Barasa emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between countries and called for the establishment of the UNFCCC REDD+ Community of Practice to strengthen peer learning, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing among participating nations.
Kenya also used the summit to showcase its progress in forest governance and climate accountability, including the establishment of Africa’s first National REDD+ Registry, a National Safeguards Information System, REDD+ nesting guidelines, a National REDD+ Strategy and an advanced National Forest Monitoring System.
“These achievements demonstrate our commitment to transparency, integrity and accountability in climate action,”Barasa said.
She further stressed that forests should not only be viewed as carbon sinks but also as critical systems that support water security, food systems, biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage and economic livelihoods.
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The summit has brought together governments, Indigenous Peoples, civil society organisations, donors, carbon market stakeholders and international agencies in discussions expected to influence the future of global forest finance and climate policy.
By hosting the first Global REDD+ Summit, Kenya is further positioning itself as a leading African hub for climate diplomacy and sustainable development negotiations at a time when countries are racing to meet global climate targets and develop credible pathways to end deforestation.
